Having had time to reflect on what we coined at the time as a Fawlty Towers type experience, it almost seems more fitting to re-imagine a different sit-com of the time, whereby maybe Arkwright makes the same trip across the Pennines that we did to start a hotel, joined by Nurse Gladys, to remain ‘Open all Hours’.
The hotel presents itself well and far from a tight-fisted Arkwright style. Indeed if fancy wallpaper and cushions are your thing, then you have landed on your feet. However underlying this is a budget filled approach that cannot be shaken. As for getting what you paid for, well we actually got a little of what the previous guests had paid for, in terms of a half-filled (not half-empty) miniature bottle of shower gel in the shower, 2 out of the original 3 custard creams on the drinks tray and pillows which one can only assume were the winners of a pillow fight that had gone on before. All of this though was only found after we managed to get into the room. Here we needed help as the lock was sticky and it felt like you were going to break the key off. The helpful receptionist though did get us in, you just had to j-j-j-jiggle it a bit !!!
The room itself was compact and not quite bijou. I cannot recall the last time I could stand in the middle of a hotel bathroom, touch all 4 walls without moving, and still have a shower, wash basin and toilet.
Full review continued in attached image due to space confinements...